Metallic foil label and the art of forming same



April 6, 1937. w. P. SUTER 'ET AL METALLIC FOIL LABEL AND THE ART OF FORMING SAME Filed Dec. 20, 1934 INVENTORS Made! 1? Safer YR/zlchm'd fl.Tice

TTORNEYS Patented Apr. 6, 1937 METALLIC FOIL LABEL AND THE ART OF FORMING SAME Walter P. Suter, Scarsdale, N. Y., and Richard A. Tice, Louisville, Ky., assignors to Reynolds Metals Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 20, 1934, Serial No. 758,448

(Cl. ill-67.9)

shown one of the various possible embodiments of the material features of the invention,

Fig. 1 shows a plain sheet of bright metallic foil suitable for use as a. label;

Fig. 2v shows the same sheet after a portion of its surface has been treated to render it lightdiffusing; and

Fig. 3 shows the finished label with printed matter set off against the treated background- Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing. In the manufacture of a label, according to the present invention, the label sheets are first prepared and cut to the desired shape and size. These sheets may consist wholly of metallic foil (preferably aluminum foil), metallic foil mounted on a paper back by means of a suitable adhesive, or metal coated paper may be employed. But whatever the stock used, it is to be understood that the objective label surface presents a bright, or burnished appearance, as indicated at In in the drawing.

The label blank is then treated to produce thereon a light-diffusing background ll having the appearance of mat or satin finished foil. Experiments were made with various media to accomplish this result. For example, printing with aluminum-bronze ink was tried but was found unsatisfactory since the ground produced was dull and lead-like. Finally a so-called white transparent ink was tried and the desired result, a soft metallic satin finish was attained,

While it is believed that various inks may have characteristics suitable for carrying out the principles of this invention, that one found most suitable has for its base ingredient alumina hy droxide. As used, the alumina hydroxide in the form of a white paste or powder is incorporated in a fluid vehicle of pale lithographic varnish. Other ingredients, such as cobalt and lead linoleate may be added in minute quantities to give variations of tint or tone. It will be understood that varying degrees of whiteness may be had by using more or. less of the hydroxide in proportion to a given amount of varnish. The ink preferred for the purposes of this invention contains approximately three parts of alumina hydrate (dry basis) to five parts of varnish.

Should it be desired to produce metallic twotone effects portions of the bright metallic surface, as the borders I 2 in Figs. 2 and 3, will be left untreated. Thus such portions of the label will present an artistic and pleasing contrast to the satiny finished portions of the label.

6 Claims.

This invention relates to metallic foil labels, wrappers, etc., and to the formation or manufacture of the same.

One object of the invention is to provide a 5 simple, inexpensive and artistic label or the like characterized by having letters or designs appear clearly outlined against a light-diffusing metallic v background. I

Another object is to provide an improved l printed label, wrapper or the like having a twotone metallic background for the printed matter.

A further object is to provide a simple and inexpensive and practical art for treating bright or burnished metallic foil to provide a light- 15 diffusing background for printed matter.

A further object is to provide a method or process for treating bright metallic foil for the purpose of producing a surface effect similar in appearance to ordinary mat finished foil.

Heretofore satin or mat finished foil has been produced by wet rolling, embossing, and by other mechanical methods; and such foil either by itself or with an applied paper backing has been used in the manufacture of labels, wrappers or the 25 like having letters or designs in one or more colors printed thereon. While labels made in this way have proved satisfactory for many purposes, it has been found possible by employing the method or process hereinafter described to attain 30 many new artistic effects and practical advantages.

Where printed matter appears against an unrelieved mat foil background the general effect is often dull and unsatisfactory, although the print- 35 mg may stand out in sharp contrast to the mat foil surface. On the other hand printed matter appearing against a background of bright burnished foil loses clarity of outline because of the high light reflectivity of the foil. It has been at- 40 tempted to use both bright and mat finished foil as a ground for the printed matter of labels and similar articles, but such constructions are made with difliculty and their cost is often prohibitive.

The present invention makes possible the at- 45 tainment of the many artistic effects to be had by combining bright and mat finished foil; but without any of the attendant disadvantages.

The inventionaccordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements,

0 arrangements of parts and in the several steps and relation and order of each of the same to one or more of the others, as will be illustratively described. herein, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

55 In the accompanying drawing, in which is The alumina hydroxide ink may be applied to the label blank in any practical manner, as by printing from an inked block or plate in a suitable printing press. If it is desired to produce a uni- 5 form mat or satin background, a printing block having a plane surface is used. If on the other hand it is found desirable to produce a half-tone effect, this may be accomplished by etching or tooling the block to produce a Ben Day or other screen design.

In the drawing the printed background is shown to comprise a plurality of fine, closely spaced parallel lines running lengthwise of the label blank. A- ground of this design presents a striking appearance and is very effective in retiming the natural reflectivity of the bright foil so as to prevent glare, although an even softer appearance obtains when a light impression is made with the ink uniformly spread overthe 0 entire ground.

At this stage the blank is ready to receive the printing matter I3 constituting the text or design of the label. This may consist of letters or a decorative design printed in one or several colors.

Opaque ink is preferably used for this purpose and the word or design is printed directly upon the ground portion ll of the label as shown in Fig. 3, where the word Reynolds appears printed in opaque block letters.

of the material features of the above invention, and as the art herein described might be varied in various parts, all without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. The herein described art'of simulating mat 40 finished aluminum foil which consists in applying to the surface of bright aluminum foil an ink composed essentially of lithographic varnish and alumina hydroxide or its equivalent.

As many possible embodiments might be made 7 2. The herein described art of simulating mat finished aluminum foil which consists in applying to the surface of bright aluminum foil a lithographic ink having an alumina hydroxide base.

3. As an article of manufacture a metallic foil label having light-reflecting portions of exposed metallic foil, light-diffusing portions simulating mat finished metallic foil produced by treating the foil with a white varnish ink, and letters, designs, etc., imprinted with opaque ink upon said light-diffusing portions.

4. The herein described art of forming a label or the like simulating a label having a background for printed matter in which bright and mat finished metallic foil are disposed in contrasting relationship, consisting in printing on bright metallic foil any desired ground design with a substantially translucent varnish ink and then printing any desired lettering or design over said ground design with opaque ink.

5. The herein described art of forming a label or the like simulating a label having a background for printed matter in which bright and mat finished metallic foil are disposed in contrasting relationship, consisting in first applying to a sheet of bright metallic foil a partial coating composed essentially of alumina hydroxide and varnish, or their equivalents, then printing any lettering or design upon the coated portion of the label with.a substantially opaque ink.

6. The herein described art of forming a label WALTER P. SUTER'. RICHARD A. TICE. 

